New Jersey Department of Education

Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Tahesha Way

ARP EANS

American Rescue Plan Emergency Assistance to Nonpublic Schools Program (ARP EANS)  (New February 1, 2022)

The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act set aside an additional 2.75 billion dollars for a second round of allocations under the Emergency Assistance to Nonpublic Schools (EANS) program. New Jersey’s ARP EANS award is $70,592,991.  In most respects, the requirements of ARP EANS are the same as those of CRRSA EANS, with the following major exception: Under ARP EANS, services or assistance are limited to nonpublic schools that enroll a significant percentage of students from low-income families  and are most impacted by the COVID-19 emergency.

ARP EANS New Jersey Low-Income Eligibility Criteria

Nonpublic schools are eligible to receive services or assistance through ARP EANS only if the nonpublic school meets or exceeds the State’s significant poverty percentage.

New Jersey’s significant poverty percentage is 22.3%, which is based on the State’s average percentage of students from low-income families in nonpublic schools [based on the free or reduced price meals (FRM) data], as reported in the FY2020 Nonpublic Enrollment Report. Note: The ARP EANS program requires the use of data from FY2020, as it did for CRRSA EANS.  If a nonpublic school does not meet the state’s low-income threshold, the nonpublic school is not eligible to participate in the ARP EANS program. See the list of nonpublic schools and their enrollment rates of free or reduced price meals (FRM) students to determine if your school is eligible.

Additional ARP EANS Eligibility Criteria

Only nonpublic schools that registered with NJDOE and submitted the FY2020 Nonpublic Enrollment Report and provide elementary or secondary education (students aged 5-17) are eligible for services or assistance under the ARP EANS program. Preschool children who are enrolled in a nonpublic elementary school that receives ARP EANS services or assistance may be served.

For a nonpublic school to be eligible for the ARP EANS program, the nonpublic school must also meet all of the following criteria:

  • Is non-profit;
  • Operates in accordance with New Jersey State law;
  • Was in existence prior to March 13, 2020, the date the President declared the national emergency due to COVID-19; and
  • Did not, and will not, apply for and receive a loan under the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) (15 U.S.C. 636(a)(37)) that is made on or after December 27, 2020. 

Allowable Uses of ARP EANS Funds

A nonpublic school may apply to receive services or assistance to address educational disruptions resulting from COVID-19 for:

  • Supplies to sanitize, disinfect, and clean school facilities
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Improving ventilation systems, including windows or portable air purification systems
  • Training and professional development for staff on sanitization, the use of PPE, and minimizing the spread of infectious diseases
  • Physical barriers to facilitate social distancing
  • Other materials, supplies or equipment recommended by the CDC for reopening and operation of school facilities to effectively maintain health and safety
  • Expanding capacity to administer coronavirus testing to effectively monitor and suppress the virus
  • Educational technology
  • Redeveloping instructional plans for remote or hybrid learning or to address learning loss
  • Leasing sites or spaces to ensure social distancing
  • Reasonable transportation costs
  • Initiating and maintaining education and support services or assistance for remote or hybrid learning or to address learning loss
Notes:
  • The NJDOE or another public agency gains title to materials, equipment, and property that it purchases under this program. Schools must label all purchases as “property of the New Jersey State Department of Education.”
  • 34 C.F.R. § 76.661 requires that equipment and supplies purchased with EANS funds must be able to be removed from a nonpublic school without remodeling the school facility. A ventilation system that is installed and becomes a capital improvement does not meet these requirements. Similarly, new windows would not be permissible, however, servicing windows that are not opening properly to improve ventilation is permitted. A portable air purification system and repairing old windows to facilitate air flow could be allowable.
  • None of the services or assistance requested in the application can have already been supported by State or Federal program funds.
  • All services or assistance requested, including any materials, equipment, and any other items used to provide such services or assistance, must be limited to secular, neutral, and non-ideological purposes.

ARP EANS Application for Eligible Schools

Eligible nonpublic schools must apply to participate in the ARP EANS program through a simple application. If your eligible nonpublic school anticipates that it will have additional needs beyond those provided through the CRRSA EANS and ESSER programs, then your school must complete the ARP EANS nonpublic school application by February 16, 2022.

Review the list of nonpublic schools and their percentage of free/reduced price meals (FRM) students to determine if your school is eligible to apply. The list indicates the schools that meet the significant poverty percentage of 22.3% or greater, as reported by schools in the FY2020 Nonpublic Enrollment Report.

ARP EANS Approved Applicants

Every applicant nonpublic school that attested to the eligibility requirements of the program was approved to participate in ARP EANS. See the list of ARP EANS approved nonpublic schools.

After applications are approved, nonpublic schools will complete a “Needs Identification and Provider Selection Survey,” similar to the one completed for CRRSA EANS. A list of approved providers will be shared with applicants prior to their selection.

Needs Identification and Provider Selection Survey for Approved Applicants

A needs-based survey allows all nonpublic schools approved to receive ARP EANS services to identify their additional COVID-related needs beyond those being addressed through the CRRSA EANS and ESSER programs, the providers, and the funds required. 

ARP EANS “Needs Identification and Provider Selection Survey” (closed 4/26/22) is similar to the one completed for CRRSA EANS; however, schools will not be provided allocations. Instead, schools will indicate their additional needs and the funds to meet those needs. This approach will satisfy the Federal guidance which states that a State Education Agency may not limit services or assistance to nonpublic schools before knowing the extent of interest from eligible nonpublic schools. 

ARP EANS Providers by Service and County:

Nonpublic schools will be able to choose their desired provider/s for ARP EANS services and assistance from the list of ARP EANS Providers by Service and County.

Nonpublic schools may use the ARP EANS Allowable Uses Worksheet to develop their ARP EANS budgets. The cost information entered on the worksheet can then be used to complete the survey. 

The ARP EANS approved nonpublic schools must submit the survey by April 26, 2022. The NJDOE will review the survey submissions and determine the final funding amounts for the services requested. If the ARP EANS program funding is insufficient to meet all the schools’ needs, the NJDOE will reduce the funds based on a variety of factors, including school enrollment, low-income percentage, COVID-impact, as well as CRRSA EANS and ESSER funds allocations.

ARP EANS Providers 

The NJDOE will develop contracts with the providers selected in the "Needs Identification and Provider Selection Survey." Once the provider contracts are finalized, the selected provider/s will reach out to the nonpublic schools to discuss their needs.

Timeline

  • US Department of Education awards ARP EANS funding to New Jersey: January 3, 2022
  • NJDOE posts ARP EANS nonpublic school application: February 2, 2022
  • Application deadline: February 16, 2022
  • NJDOE approves/denies applications: February 23, 2022
  • NJDOE posts ARP EANS Providers by Service and County: March 28, 2022
  • NJDOE posts "Needs Identification and Vendor Selection Survey”: March 28, 2022
  • Deadline for "Needs Identification and Vendor Selection Survey”: April 26, 2022
  • NJDOE approves schools' ARP EANS budgets: June 2022 
  • NJDOE obligates ARP EANS funds (i.e., NJDOE contracts with providers): September 2022
  • Nonpublic schools receive services and assistance: October 2022 through September 30, 2024

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